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Maine law requires a hearing on Hasson’s confirmation to happen within 30 days of the governor’s nomination.

The department has been without a permanent commissioner since 2014.

Last year, the governor nominated Dr. Bill Beardsley to be commissioner, but rescinded the nomination after some Democratic lawmakers threatened to block it.

Acting commissioners are not subject to legislative confirmation.

State law limits acting education commissioners to holding the role for six months.

They are also not allowed to be reappointed by the governor once their term is up.“I am grateful to Governor LePage and the State Board of Education for their confidence in me and for the opportunity to serve,” Hasson said in a statement Thursday. “I have had more fun leading the Department these last several weeks than at any other time in my career, except for when I was teaching first grade. This is an important moment for our State to recommit to our students, to empower our teachers and leaders and to bravely dream about new possibilities that we wouldn’t have dared to imagine. It is an exciting time in Maine education. I am especially committed to ensuring that the State of Maine finds new ways to serve our disadvantaged youth and prepare them for lifelong success.”

“Bob Hasson has demonstrated that he understands the one thing that matters most in education: every decision should be made based on the best interest of our students,” the governor said. “As long as I am Governor, we will do everything within our power to reshape the education system in Maine to center around students, push more of the dollars spent on education into the classroom and remove barriers to educational opportunities. I thank Dr. Hasson for his willingness to lead and advocate for Maine students and teachers.”

Hasson was superintendent in MSAD 51 from 1993 to 2013 and then served as the deputy executive director of the Maine School Management Association.